he main force fueling this gun-buying binge is the election last year of President Barack Obama and the large Democratic majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives. Democrats are generally perceived to be hostile to the interests of gun enthusiasts and their organizations, so a type of "buy now while you still can" mentality took hold.

"It really began in the middle of October last year," said Lawrence Keane, vice-president and general counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. "Sales have been up in double-digits in every month since, except July, which is seasonally slow anyway."

"A big part of it is the political dynamic," Keane said. "People have legitimate concerns about new regulations [although] economic worries are a factor as well. We are also seeing a goodly number of first-time buyers and firearms safety education courses are filled all over the country."

Keane noted that while there have been no concrete steps taken to rein in the business, "There have been some comments by various officials in the government that have led to lot of apprehension on the part of gun owners on what is going to happen."